brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

[carcareGAL]

brand new light blue car. Noticed when we got home from dealer, we had put finger marks all over it- from mainly my kids. So, got out the new box of the meguiars carnauba wax and went to work (after I washed it with your car wash. Now, I have fingerprints all over it again!
I am kinda new at all of this...
What did I do wrong?

Oh, and I can't find any of Meguiars towels or pads. I bought like 3 different store brands and I only have the one large towel that came in the box.

help, please.

[Murr1525]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Sounds like you need to do a test spot with something like SwirlX.

As far as finding products, no one store seems to carry all of the Meguiars products. Really best to order online if you want one place to find everything.

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Thanks. Um, I'm confused-SwirlX? there are not swirl marks. its a brand new car. I've had it for 2 days. there are just fingerprints on it. I can take a towel and wipe them away, but what did I do wrong?

[Fly Bye]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?


Swirl X is very mild, and can be used by hand.

[Fly Bye]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

what did I do wrong?

There may be a sort of residue on the finish. I would think that the wax would have cleared it up, but maybe not. The Swirl X will gently exfoliate (if you will) whatever is on the surface.

The oil from your fingers will always leave prints on a finished surface.

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Thats kinda what I thought-there was a residue. But I waxed it myself, by hand. and I just touched the paint and my hand print was there. Did I not get all the wax off?
That towel that came in the wax box was large, but I did the whole car. Wondering if I should take that towel to it again? Or wash it?
I have swirlx and have used it on my other vehicle. but a brand new car? I am very hesitate to do that.

[akimel]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

I betcha that Megs' Cleaner Wax or ColorX would clear that right up. Do a test spot. If it works, then apply the cleaner wax to the entire vehicle. Then if you like, top it with the GC Carnauba Plus.

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

thanks. I'm still a bit confused. sorry. I've been reading through the posts on this site (lots of info). Found this thread: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27788
that is not on my car. I had no idea you could leave thumb prints from working on a car. I've been very careful with our other vehicles, too.

I just put the Meguiars goldglass carnauba plus liquid wax my car. Then my youngest got in it, and left little fingertips all around the edge where the windows are. I took the towel that I believe came in the box, and used it to wipe the little fingertips away.
my initial reason for waxing the car by me was maybe the dealer didn't clean the car up correctly. I was also taking off a lot of tiny pieces from the white covering on the car when I washed/waxed it.
so, now I think I may have not waxed it correctly either. I want to buy more of the towel that came with Meguiars, so I can use more than one towel. I'm washing it this am, in case I have to do something to the car today. Its still sitting in the garage since we came home with it.

[BobbyG]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Fingerprints can be left on a cars finish pretty easily but they should come off just as easily. Leaving fingerprints on glass is a classic example of how easy it is.

Waxing the finish is a great way to protect its beauty but doesn't make it fingerprint proof. If you touch this freshly waxed surface you'll still leave fingerprints behind because your fingerprints are left from the natural oils in your skin.

A quality detail spray like Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Detailer and a good quality Microfiber towel will make them disappear like glass cleaner on a glass surface.

[Kornercarver]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

If people touch the car, fingerprints will always be left behind. Try to instill upon the kids not to touch the car. I realize that is easier said than done. The only way to remove them is to wash the car more often.

[akimel]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

One never knows what kind of products the dealer may have used to make his cars look shiny--perhaps whatever he used is "capturing" the finger prints. Or perhaps the car got accidentally coated in something while in transit or while sitting in the dealer's lot. Hence it makes sense, at least to me, to clean the surface with a product like Cleaner Wax, ColorX, or SwirlX and start with a fresh surface. It certainly won't hurt anything.

[Poki]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Bobby G got it right on! The oils on your skin will leave finger prints on your paint/glass no matter what you put on the paint. Use a spray detailer like Ultimate Quick Detailer and a microfiber towel to wipe them away easily. I have to do this daily. If you have trouble finding quality MF towels, try Target. The orange ones they have are good quality and cheap. Auto stores like Pep Boys also have good ones. My 3 year old Grandson drives me crazy with his lil hand prints!!

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

thank you! they are little still, but I will try and teach them not to.
I have to eventually drive this car with the kids.

BobbyG: do I use the quick detailer now? I think it came with the clay kit I bought to use on our older vehicle. So, have not used it other than with the clay kit.

Kornercarver: I grew up washing my car every weekend. I am only now getting back into caring for all our vehicles. Products and car finishes have changed a lot since then. How often can I wash a new car?

What do I do about the wax I just put on it? I almost washed it this am, but the towels are in the dryer now and the sun in out on the drive, so I can't.

I was attempting to get a 'show room' shine on all the vehicles, but I guess I just don't know how yet.

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

Poki: Thanks! I didn't see your post at first. Yep, mine (kids), think the car is for putting hands all over!!! my youngest is finally out of a car seat, so this vehicle will be the first to not have a car seat in a lot of years!
and I am constantly cleaning the glass in the cars!!!
Thanks also for telling me the towels at Target are ok. I just can't find Mequiars at all!!! I have bought so many and then get home and have no idea if they will scratch, so I use them elsewheres. I now have them color-coded per use! I have targets, but not the orange ones. will get them.

You can really use the ult. quick detailer every day? um, do you wash the car first?

[carcareGAL]

Re: brand new car & waxing -leaving finger prints?

One never knows what kind of products the dealer may have used to make his cars look shiny--perhaps whatever he used is "capturing" the finger prints. Or perhaps the car got accidentally coated in something while in transit or while sitting in the dealer's lot. Hence it makes sense, at least to me, to clean the surface with a product like Cleaner Wax, ColorX, or SwirlX and start with a fresh surface. It certainly won't hurt anything.

akimel, that is what I first thought. That is why I washed it, then waxed it with goldclass carnauba plus. kids wanted to sit in the car, and yep, there were the prints after they got out and I looked over the car!

considering the car still had some of that white protective film on it, I wondered.

I can pick up another product if I can find it. which one will be the less abrasive? And I thought those took the wax off? I only have the swirlx. I always thought washing the car was the cleaning of the car. this extra step for a new car, is new to me. I used the swirlx, scratch2 and ult compound on the other vehicles as I had scratches to attempt to minimize. but, am still hesitant with a 3 day old car.